82-year-old passenger killed in Sonora crash involving Caltrans vehicle, CHP says
An 82-year-old woman from Beijing, China, was killed Sunday morning when the SUV she was riding in overturned after hitting an embankment on Highway 120 east of Sonora, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The crash happened around 10 a.m. near Menke Ness Road, according to the California Highway Patrol. A 51-year-old Beijing man was driving a 2025 Jeep Compass east on Highway 120 with two passengers: a 52-year-old woman and the 82-year-old woman.
They were traveling behind a Caltrans vehicle driven by a 33-year-old Jesse Warren, the CHP said. Both vehicles were in a section of the roadway where the eastbound and westbound lanes are divided by a broken yellow line.
As the Jeep began to pass the Caltrans vehicle using the westbound lane, Warren attempted to make a left turn into a state-owned driveway, the CHP said. The Jeep’s driver steered left to avoid a collision, lost control, and veered off the north side of the road, striking an embankment. The SUV then overturned onto its roof.
The driver was wearing a seatbelt and sustained minor injuries. He was taken to Adventist Health Sonora. The 52-year-old front-seat passenger, who was also belted, suffered moderate injuries and was transported to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto.
The 82-year-old passenger, seated in the back and wearing a seatbelt, died from her injuries at the scene, according to the CHP.
One-way traffic control was in place for several hours after the crash. Alcohol and drugs are not suspected to be factors.
The crash remains under investigation. Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to contact the CHP Sonora Area office at 209-984-3944.
